‘When I was younger, I thought Puccini was easy. Then when I grew up, I studied his scores and I said to myself, “Nicola, you were really stupid when you thought this about a great, talented and gifted and composer!”

‘Puccini is attractive because he speaks directly to our hearts’, he continues. ‘When I study at the piano, I can understand what is written technically, but how the sounds and orchestration of the instruments is combined is a mystery – it’s a miracle!’

‘What Puccini needs is that you breathe the music with him’, says Luisotti of how to approach the composer’s work as a conductor.